In Japan, there exists a growing series of robot-therapy sessions at Japanese hospitals and senior citizens’ homes to help aging adults become accustomed to robots. Some scientists believe that robots are the answer to caring for the aging societies in not only Japan but other nations where the younger generations are destined to be overwhelmed by a surging elderly population.

These advocates see robots as not only helpers by carrying out simple chores and reminding patients to take their medication, but also as companions even if the machines can only speak a few words. The idea is to assist senior adult caretakers, help reduce medical costs, alleviate the burdens on the family, and keep the old and ailing in better health. Russell Bodoff, executive director at the Center for Aging Services Technologies in Washington, D.C believes that this technology is really needed for the global community.

He believes that we are on the path to a global crisis due to the fact that there will be many more aging people in need of assistance than those to do the job and it is more than we could ever deal with.